BROOKLYN (CN) - An NYPD officer and his brother, a Customs officer at LAX Airport, were arrested and charged with conspiring to export high-powered weapons to the Philippines, federal prosecutors said.
Rex Maralit, 44, an NYPD officer in Manhattan, and Wilfredo Maralit, 48, a Customs and Border Protection officer at Los Angeles International Airports, were arrested late last week, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
Their brother, Ariel Maralit, 43, also is charged in the indictment. U.S. officials are seeking help from the Philippines to arrest him.
Wilfredo Maralit is expected to be sent to Brooklyn from Santa Ana, Calif., to face the charges.
Rex and Wilfredo are suspected of using their law enforcement credentials to get discounts on guns, disassembling them and smuggling them to their brother in the Philippines.
Citing the indictment, the U.S. Attorney's Office said the brothers are accused of smuggling "high-powered assault rifles, sniper rifles, pistols and firearm accessories from the United States to the Philippines, where they were sold to overseas customers."
The Maralits are charged with conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act and conspiring to sell guns without a license.
If convicted they face up to 5 years in prison and fines of $250,000 on each count.
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